Despite the warning of extreme cold, thousands of people came to ring in 2018 at the Jacques-Cartier Pier in the Old Port of Montreal.
It was DJ KXO who started the party at 9pm. Among the artists present are Garou, Vincent Vallières, Daniel Bélanger and Mes Aïeux.
Considering the wind chill, it felt about minus 30 degrees Celsius at beginning of the night, according to Environment Canada.
Weather services warned people heading out, especially those with poor health and children, of the risk of frostbite.
A warm-up station was opened in the marché Bonsecours, able to hold 600 people, and was to remain open until early morning.
The performance of DJ Champion scheduled shortly after the stroke of midnight was canceled.
The Celebration Society of Montreal's 375th Anniversary announced Sunday afternoon that DJ Magic Stan will be behind the turntables instead.
This last minute change is due to a broken equipment. There is "no indication" that this situation is due to the cold, assured the spokesperson of the organization, Isabelle Pelletier.
Security measures were also reinforced this year, according to the general manager Montréal en Fête, Arianne Simon. "We have tripled the number of security officers on the site compared to last year, we also have security corridors and concrete blocks to prevent the entry of people who would have malicious intentions."
The countown to midnight at the quai de l'Horloge marks the transition to the new year and also the end of the celebrations for Montreal's 375th anniversary.
Fireworks and illuminating Jacques Cartier Bridge also will mark the arrival of 2018.